Verse of the Week: V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
1. Daily (V1-8)
V2 “And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.”
The holy God through Prophet Ezekiel commanded His princes, priests and people to worship Him in the sabbaths and in the new moons. This weekly worship includes the people offering burnt and peace offerings to God for His great mercies that they were not consumed but were able to live for His glory and honour. Today we worship God not just weekly but daily thanking Him for His great mercies as well as His amazing grace.
V3 “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”
2. Decently (V9-15)
V9 “But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.”
Everyone who came in by the north gate to worship the Lord must go out by the south gate, and those who came in by the south gate must go out by the north gate. Indeed, the worship of the Lord must be done decently and in order, as God is a God of order.
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
3. Diligently (V16-24)
V18 “Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.”
God warned the princes not to take the people’s inheritance by oppression or force but that they must work diligently for their possession which would be given to their sons.
“He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.” (Proverbs 11:27)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to worship you daily, decently and diligently.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 09:47 pm
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Verse of the Week: V10 “Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.”
1. Honest Division (V1-8)
V1 “Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, and holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.”
The holy God spoke to Prophet Ezekiel to divide the land for inheritance by lot and it must be done in honesty and fairness. Indeed, the works of God are great and honourable and we must serve Him with honesty and fairness otherwise our works are in vain.
“The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” (Psalms 111:2-3)
2. Honest Dealing (V9-12)
V9 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.”
The princes of Israel were dishonest in their dealings as they deceived and cheated the people of their land and money. God warned them to confess and repent of their sins and dishonesty otherwise His judgment shall be upon them. Instead of using just balances and measurements in their dealings, they were using unjust balances and measurements, and were out to deceive and cheat the people. The saddest truth is that God’s people who are supposedly to be honest and fair in their dealings are dishonest and unfair. This brings disgrace and shame to God’s holy name, and is a stumbling block to unbelievers.
V10 “Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.”
3. Honest Discipline (V13-25)
V21 “In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.”
Christ was the passover who sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins so that we can be righteous before the holy God. However, when we sin against God by deceiving and cheating others, Christ shall judge and discipline us for our good and for His glory.
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to be honest for Your honour and glory.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 05:00 pm
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Verse of the Week: V15 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:”
1. The Sons Of Israel (V1-14)
V6 “And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,”
God spoke to Prophet Ezekiel to warn the house of Israel or the sons of Israel to repent of all their abominations and sins, otherwise the holy God shall judge, punish and shame them. All the people of Israel including the priests, except for the sons of Zadok, had grievously rebelled, disobeyed and sinned against the holy God.
V13 “And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.”
2. The Sons of Zadok (V15-16)
V15 “But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:”
Only the sons of Zadok among all the priests of Israel could come near and stand before the holy God and minister and offer sacrifices to Him. The sons of Zadok had kept themselves holy while the rest of the priests and the people had sinned against God.
V16 “They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.”
3. The Sons Of God (V17-31)
V28 “And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.”
The reward of the sons of Zadok was God as their inheritance and possession. Indeed, God is our inheritance and possession and we become the sons of God if we confess and repent our sins, and believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for accepting me as Your son.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 02:02 pm
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Verse of the Week: V27 “And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.”
1. The Glory Of God (V1-6)
V2 “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory.”
The glory of the God of Israel will return when the people of Israel become holy and acceptable to God. Indeed, the greatest joy of God and His people is when the glory of God fills the house of God with God’s people gathering together in worship of the holy God in truth, in spirit, in unity, in love and in fellowship.
V5 “So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.”
2. The Law Of God (V7-17)
V12 “This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.”
The glory of the God of Israel will return when the people of Israel obey the law of the house or the law of God. The holy God will only bless and keep His people when they trust and obey His most holy law.
3. The Altar Of God (V18-27)
V27 “And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.”
The glory of the God of Israel will return when the people of Israel offer their burnt and peace offerings upon the altar of God, and most importantly, when the people offer their lives as living sacrifice upon the altar of God. Indeed, this is the only way for God to accept His people when they offer their lives as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable before Him. This is also the only reasonable service that God’s people can reciprocate their love, gratitude and thanksgiving to the holy God, and their Saviour Jesus Christ.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please accept me as I offer myself as a living sacrifice before You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 12:33 am
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Verse of the Week: V20 “He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.”
1. The Holy Chambers (V1-13)
V13 “Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priest that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
God commanded Ezekiel to warn the priests to keep all the chambers holy and separated from any unholy things. The priests must ensure that all the offerings were holy before God including the place of sacrifice. Let us be holy in our speech and deed, and be separated from those who are unholy as we are the sons and daughters of the holy God.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
2. The Holy Garments (V14-18)
V14 “When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall out on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.”
God commanded Ezekiel that the priests’ garments could only be worn in the holy chambers and they must leave their holy garments in the holy chambers, and put on other garments when they leave the chambers. Our lives, like the priests’ holy garments, must be holy and worthy before God, as we study the Bible, pray and walk with our holy God.
Revelation 3:4 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”
3. The Holy Sanctuary (V19-20)
V20 “He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.”
Just like the sanctuary of God must be separated from the profane place, our lives must be separated from evil and wickedness in order for us to be holy before the holy God.
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please separate me from evil that I may be holy before You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:39 am
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Verse of the Week:V4 “So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.”
1. The Command (V1-6)
V4 “So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.”
God commanded prophet Ezekiel that the place he stood was the most holy place in the temple and that he must be holy in the holy place. When we believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, our body becomes the temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells within our body. This is why we must flee from sins and be holy before our holy God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
2. The Chambers (V7-17)
V7 “And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.”
God showed Ezekiel the highest as well as the lowest chamber. It was a reminder to Ezekiel that there shall be high and low point of our service to God. The highest point is when we behold and worship God, while the lowest point is when we sin against God.
Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.”
3. The Cherubs (V18-26)
V18 “And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;”
The cherubims, which are angels of God guarding the presence of God, had two faces. One was the face of a man, the symbol of God became man, while the other was the face of a young lion, the symbol of God as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
V19 “So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to be holy as I am the temple of Your Holy Ghost.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:39 am
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Verse of the Week: V2 “In the visions of God brought He me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.”
1. Visions Of God (V1-2)
V1 “In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.”
God gave Prophet Ezekiel the visions and detailed description of the new temple of God where the Lord Jesus Christ shall reign during the Millennial kingdom. These visions were great encouragement to Ezekiel who was then a prisoner in Babylon after the Babylonians attacked Israel and destroyed the temple of God and killed thousands of the people of Israel, and took many of them as captives including Ezekiel.
V2 “In the visions of God brought He me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.”
2. Temple Of God (V3-43)
V3 “And He brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.”
God showed Ezekiel a man, who in turned showed him the new temple of God, so that Ezekiel could declare to the people of Israel the new temple he had seen, and encouraged them to trust God in spite of their intense sufferings and cruel captivity in the hands of the Babylonians. Ezekiel comforted them that one day, those who believe in the true God, shall dwell in His new temple, and shall reign together with the Lord Jesus Christ.
V4 “And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither; declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.”
3. Singers of God (V44-49)
V44 “And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.”
There shall be singers in the new temple as well as in Heaven, the home of God. Music and singing is an integral part of praise and worship of God as the people of God express our thankfulness and gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done in our lives.
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please encourage me to know that You are with me now and forever.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:52 am
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Verse of the Week: V7 “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”
1. God’s Holy Name (V1-7)
V1 “Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:”
God was against Gog because the people of Gog were unholy before Him. However, the saddest truth was that even God’s people were also unholy. This was why God sent countless prophets to preach to His people to repent of their sins and be holy before Him.
V7 “So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”
2. God’s Holy Work (V8-16)
V8 “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.”
Nothing could hinder God’s holy work as He shall punish and destroy the people of Gog for their wickedness and they shall be buried forever in hell. Though many times it seems that the wicked people prosper and enjoy life on earth, yet God is not mocked, as He shall surely judge and condemn the wicked in the fiery pits of hell for all eternity.
V11 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog.”
3. God’s Holy Spirit (V17-29)
V25 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;”
Though God chastised the people of Israel, yet He shall pour His Holy Spirit and mercy upon the remnant of His people who chose to repent of their sins and be holy before Him.
V29 “Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please help me to be holy because You are holy.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:16 am
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Verse of the Week: V23 “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
1. God Is All Knowing (V1-13)
V2 “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,”
GOD told prophet Ezekiel that in the last days, Gog, Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Sheba, Dedan, Tarshish and all the great leaders will come together, and attack Israel, and take away their silver and gold, cattle and possessions, and destroy their land and kill their people.
V13 “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”
2. God Is In Control (V14-15)
V14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?”
GOD allows these countries from the north of Israel to invade Israel in order to humble the people of Israel, and let them know that the Lord God is in control of everything, including the punishment of His own people for their unbelief and disobedience.
V15 “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:”
3. God Is Great (V16-23)
V16 “And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”
Today, many people in Israel do not believe in God, but one day they shall believe. God shall send the mighty nations to humble Israel, so that not only the people of Israel, but all the people of the world, shall know that the God of Israel is the one and only great God, and there is none beside Him.
V23 “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, please humble me to know that You are the one and only great God.
Posted by: Pator Davy Sim AT 02:19 am
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Verse of the Week:V5 “Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”
1. The Dead Lives (V1-10)
V3 “And He said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.”
The Lord GOD brought prophet Ezekiel to an open valley full of dry bones, and asked Ezekiel whether these dry bones could live. Ezekiel, the man of God, knew that with God nothing shall be impossible, and God could certainly make the dry bones lived. Indeed, God spoke to the dry bones, and caused breath to enter into the dry bones, and they lived.
V5 “Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live;”
2. The Nation Lives (V11-14)
V11 “Then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.”
The Lord GOD showed prophet Ezekiel the dry bones of the whole house or nation of Israel, and again, asked Ezekiel whether Israel could live and had hope in the Almighty God. Again, Ezekiel believed that with God nothing shall be impossible. Indeed, God put His spirit in the people of Israel, and Israel lived, and had hope in the Almighty God.
V14 “And shall put My spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.”
3. The LORD Lives (V15-28)
V24 “And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.”
The one shepherd is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. One day, the Lord shall reign forever, and everyone who believes in Him shall live and reign with Him for evermore.
V26 “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.”
Prayer of the Week:
Dearest God, thank You for saving my soul; I once was dead spiritually, but now I live, yet not I, but You live in me.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 11:02 am
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